Chinese prescription is composed of Chinese herbal medicines according to "seven compatible relations" and "sovereign, minister, assistant and courier" principles. There are many methods in the research on combination and composition of Chinese herbal medicines. These methods are classified into traditional model and modern model. For the time being, compatibility study of traditional Chinese herbal medicines has developed from traditional model to modern model. The traditional model mainly studies the effects and mechanisms of the whole and split formulae in medical crude drug level, while the modern model mainly studies the effects and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine compositions in components combination level. Moreover, quantitative analysis becomes probable by modern model method. Now, setting up of new components combination model and optimal composition methods will not only develop the combination and the composition of Chinese herbal medicines from medicinal crude drug level to components composition level, but also get new formulae which have clear components and effects, and action targets and mechanisms. It will effectively promote the development of Chinese medicine formula.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of repairing surgically ablated cavernous nerves with silastic nerve tube conduit filled with nerve growth enhancing media. Methods 54 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups,the sham operated controls,the bilateral cavernous nerve ablation and entubulization nerve reconstruction with insulin like growth factor(IGF).1,3 and 6 months after surgery,rats models were evaluated with apomorphine test,followed by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase staining to identify NOS in penile nerve fibers of the proxiamal portion of penile shaft and penile crus. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the ablated and the entubulization nerve reconstruction groups at 1 month,however,at 3 and 6 months,Apomorphine test studies resulted in tumescence from 42% and 50% of the entubulization nerve reconstruction groups versus 0% and 0% of the ablated group,respectively (P

ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of repairing surgically ablated cavernous nerves by using an interposition genitofemoral nerve graft and with nerve growth enhancing media (insulin-like growth factor-I,IGF-I) injection.MethodsA total of 54 male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (each of 18 rats),including sham operation controls, bilateral cavernous nerve ablation and nerve graft with IGF-I injection groups.At 1,3 and 6 months after surgery, the rat models were evaluated with Apomorphine Test.Then nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) staining was used to identify nNOS in penile nerve fibers of the proximal portion of penile shaft.ResultsAt 1,3 and 6 months after surgery, the rats of sham operation group had normal erectile function (erection rate,100%),while the rats of nerve ablation group lost erectile function at all (erection rate,0%).There was no statistically significant difference of ED between the nerve ablation and nerve graft groups at 1 month;however,at 3 and 6 months,Apomorphine Test resulted in tumescence of 50% and 66.7% of the nerve graft groups vs 0% and 0% of the nerve ablation groups, respectively ( P

Objective To compare the efficacy and complications of Chinese Shang Ring circumcision with conventional circumcisiom Methods Clinical data of 479 cases of Chinese Shang Ring circumcision and 354 cases of conventional circumcision with complete follow-up were analyzed.Comparisons were made between the two groups on operation time,pain score,blood loss,postoperative complications,postoperative satisfaction with penile appearance,wound healing time and treatment costs. Results There was no statistical difference in age and foreskin status between the two groups (P＞0.05).For the Shang Ring group,the operation time was(5±1)rain,blood loss was (0.98±1.14)ml,pain score during operation was 0.25±0.54,24-hour pain score after operation was 1.63±0.87,the postoperative complication rate was 6.89% (33/479),wound healing time was (20±5)d,the satisfaction rate of appearance was 99.79% (478/479),and treatment cost was (871±52) yuan.For the conventional group,the operation time was (27±5) min,blood loss was (8.30±3.60)ml,pain score during operation was 3.29±1.57,24-hour pain score after operation was 5.56±1.42,the postoperative complication rate was 13.28%(47/354),wound healing time was (13±2)d,satisfaction rate of appearance was 92.37% (327/354),and treatment cost was (554±46) yuan.Compared with the conventional group,the Shang Ring group had a shorter operation time,less blood loss,less pain score,higher appearance satisfaction rate and a lower complication rate (P＜0.05).But wound healing time was longer and treatment cost was higher in the Shang Ring group (P＜0.05). Conclusions Chinese Shang Ring circumcision is simpler and an improved approach over conventional circumeision with shorter operative time,less blood loss,less pain,relatively lower complication rate and higher satisfaction and acceptability.

Objective To understand the current situation and trend on the relations between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) through analyzing the epidemiologic research data.Methods We conducted a literature search on the Scopus for potentially relevant epidemiologic studies on ED and CVD published from 1957 to October,28,2016.Age of the article,types,regions,citation,and co-authorship of the documents were recorded.Results A total number of 412 pieces of literature were published in the past six decades,with original articles the most common types of ED and CVD.ED and CVD associated epidemiologic topics had an annual increase in number,and remained stable in the past decade,with occident countries as the United States and Italy taking the lead in this area.Clinical and epidemiological studies were the hottest areas,with most authors sharing a co-authorship.Conclusion Our results suggested that inter-disciplinary cooperation with emphasize on clinical application were the effective starting points for ED and CVD associated epidemiologic studies.

Diabetic cognitive dysfunction （DCD） is one of the complications of diabetes， which is characterized by impaired brain structure and progressively decreased learning and memory ability. With the increasing incidence of diabetes worldwide， DCD has become a serious medical and social problem. However， its pathophysiological mechanisms are not well understood. The occurrence and development of DCD involve multiple pathological links and mechanisms， and the prevention and treatment require multi-link and multi-target therapeutic measures. At present， there is no specific drug to prevent or improve DCD. Hypoglycemic drugs such as metformin and vigagliptin or anti-dementia drug including Donepezil are commonly used in clinical treatment to delay the occurrence and progression of cognitive dysfunction， but these drugs have a single target and obvious side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history in the prevention and treatment of diabetes and central cognitive diseases， and it has many unique advantages such as multiple components， multiple targets， side effects， and low price. A large number of studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine has a significant prevention and treatment effect on DCD， which can improve insulin resistance， synaptic dysfunction， inflammation， oxidative stress， endoplasmic reticulum stress， and neuronal apoptosis by regulating phosphatidylin-ositol 3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt）， advanced glycation end products （AGEs）/advanced glycation end products receptor （RAGE）/nuclear transcription factor-κB （NF-κB）， NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome， and endoplasmic reticulum stress and nuclear factor E₂ related factor 2 （Nrf2）/antioxidant response element （ARE） signaling pathways. This article reviewed the effects and related mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine on DCD in recent years， so as to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of DCD by traditional Chinese medicine.

BACKGROUNDShang Ring male circumcision (MC) is a safe surgery with good short-term effects. This retrospective study was performed to investigate the long-term result of patients who had undergone Shang Ring MC.

METHODSA total of 103 patients who underwent the surgery were recruited in the study. Before and after the surgery, a questionnaire inquiring sexual function and sexual satisfaction was filled up. Face-to-face interview was executed. Physical examination of the external genitals was performed and complications were evaluated.

RESULTSThe median follow-up duration was 19.1 months (range from 9 to 28 months). The mean width of penile mucosa was (9.3 ± 2.5) mm. The mean width of scar was (3.7 ± 1.6) mm. No tender pain was found in participants when palpating the penis. No significant or functional complication was observed except of mucosa asymmetry in one case and scar hyperplasia in two cases. The postoperative sexual function did not differ from the preoperative one, although partners showed better satisfaction toward sexual life.

CONCLUSIONShang Ring MC represents a good long-term cosmetic result with no significant complication or adverse effects on sexual function.

Adult ; Cicatrix ; diagnosis ; Circumcision, Male ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sexual Behavior ; physiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo characterize the chemical constituents of Dayuanyin based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/electrostatic field orbitrap mass spectrometry（UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS）. MethodThe detection was performed on a Thermo Acclaim™ RSLC 120 C₁₈ column（2.1 mm×100 mm， 2.2 μm）， the mobile phase was acetonitrile（A）-0.1% formic acid aqueous solution（B） for gradient elution （0-7.5 min， 10%-19%A； 7.5-12 min， 19%-22.5%A； 12-23 min， 22.5%-27%A； 23-27 min， 27%-56%A； 27-35 min， 56%-84%A； 35-36 min， 84%-90%A）， the flow rate was 0.3 mL·min^-1， and the column temperature was 30 ℃. The data were collected in the positive and negative ion modes by heated electrospray ionization（HESI）， and the detection range was m/z 80-1 200. Combining the retention time of the reference substance， fragment ions， databases such as PubChem and related literature， Xcalibur 3.0 was used to identify the chemical constituents of Dayuanyin. ResultA total of 161 compounds were identified， including 14 alkaloids， 60 flavonoids， 16 terpenoids， 26 saponins， 18 phenylpropanoids， 16 organic acids and 11 others. ConclusionThe established method can effectively and quickly identify the chemical components in Dayuanyin， and clarify its chemical composition， which can provide a basis for the development of compound preparations of this famous classical formula.

Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is characterized by diffuse alveolar injury primarily caused by an excessive inflammatory response. Regrettably, the lack of effective pharmacotherapy currently available contributes to the high mortality rate in patients with this condition. Xuebijing (XBJ), a traditional Chinese medicine recognized for its potent anti-inflammatory properties, exhibits promise as a potential therapeutic agent for ALI/ARDS. This study aimed to explore the preventive effects of XBJ on ALI and its underlying mechanism. To this end, we established an LPS-induced ALI model and treated ALI mice with XBJ. Our results demonstrated that pre-treatment with XBJ significantly alleviated lung inflammation and increased the survival rate of ALI mice by 37.5%. Moreover, XBJ substantially suppressed the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the lung tissue. Subsequently, we performed a network pharmacology analysis and identified identified 109 potential target genes of XBJ that were mainly involved in multiple signaling pathways related to programmed cell death and anti-inflammatory responses. Furthermore, we found that XBJ exerted its inhibitory effect on gasdermin-E-mediated pyroptosis of lung cells by suppressing TNF-α production. Therefore, this study not only establishes the preventive efficacy of XBJ in ALI but also reveals its role in protecting alveolar epithelial cells against gasdermin-E-mediated pyroptosis by reducing TNF-α release.
Animals ; Mice ; Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; Pyroptosis ; Gasdermins ; Lipopolysaccharides/adverse effects* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy* ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome